Lowell License Commission member to resign

LOWELL -- Denis Teague, who was appointed to the city's License Commission last month, has decided to resign effective Nov. 9.

Teague told The Sun Tuesday night his wife and two children live in Vermont and he is joining them there.

"My family has moved on and I feel my higher obligation is to my family," said Teague, who added that he intends to keep a business presence in Lowell.

Teague, an attorney, was appointed by City Manager Bernie Lynch in September to fill the unexpired term of resigned commissioner Raymond Weicker until the term expired in June.

Teague is also a member of the city's Election Commission and will resign that post after the election next month.

Lynch will be charged with finding a replacement for Teague and securing City Council confirmation for his choice.

The other two members of the board are attorney Brian Akashian and Christy Delaney, a patrol officer with Simmons College's Police Department.

Delaney was approved by the council earlier this month.

In the coming weeks, Lynch said he hopes the licensing board can take up revised regulations for the city's liquor licensees.

In other business Tuesday, the council:

* Went into executive session to discuss likely litigation with multiple parties, as well as ongoing contract negotiations with Auditor Sheryl Wright. Last week, Lynch told the council he would meet with them this week to discuss likely litigation concerning the Engine 11 fire-truck blaze.

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* Approved Rita Mercier's motion requesting Lynch outline steps to be taken to reassure the council that new phone lines will function during power outages so as not to interrupt or prevent residents' emergency calls to police and fire.

* Approved Leahy's motion requesting Lynch have the proper department review the intersection at Twelfth, July and Methuen streets for a report and recommendation for signage at that intersection.

* Approved Leahy's motion requesting Lynch contact the Middlesex Sheriff's Department to coordinate a schedule for the work-release program in the spring and summer.

* Approved and referred to the traffic engineer Councilor Marty Lorrey's motion requesting the City Council approve residential parking only on Riverside Way where parking is legally available.

* Approved and referred to the traffic engineer Lorrey's motion requesting Lynch and City Council plan and adopt a residential parking plan for the Acre and other areas affected by UMass Lowell's expansion.

* Approved Ed Kennedy and Leahy's motion requesting Lynch evaluate and assess the current workforce of inspectors under the supervision of the Building Commissioner and make recommendations to the City Council regarding certification and the need to increase health, building, wire, plumbing and electrical inspectors.

* Approved Kennedy and Leahy's motion requesting Lynch explore the feasibility of augmenting the current number of inspectors with part-time certified inspectors who will work 20 hours a week.

* Approved Kennedy and Leahy's motion requesting the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee and the superintendent consider offering courses for potential health, building, wire and plumbing inspectors that would lead to satisfying the requirement necessary for licensure and/or certification.

* Authorized the ratification of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Merrimack Valley Employees Association Inspectors unit covering July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012. There were no pay increases in the agreement that covered fiscal 2011 and 2012.

* Authorized Lynch to execute a crosswalk easement to Umass Lowell located within a right of way on Broadway Street. Leahy voted present.

* Watched City Treasurer Elizabeth Craveiro give a presentation of the city's new online payment system.

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